I watched this 2014 A24 film “Life After Beth” on Netflix DVD. This dark zombie comedy film premiered at Sundance and was written and directed by Jeff Baena (this was his directorial debut). The story is about Zach, devastated by his girlfriend Beth’s death. He encounters strange things at her parent’s home and finally breaks in to discover they are hiding Beth. She seems sort of normal but is acting weird, which soon becomes a wild understatement.
Zach is played by Dane DeHaan (Chronicle, Lawless, Lincoln, the Green Goblin in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, TV episodes of True Blood, ZeroZeroZero, The Stranger), and
Beth is played by Aubrey Plaza (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Addicted to Fresno, Dirty Grandpa, Child’s Play, Black Bear, TV episodes of, Portlandia, April on Parks and Recreation, Legion). Beth’s dad is played by
John C. Reilly (Above the Law, Days of Thunder, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Dolores Claiborne, Boys, Boogie Nights, Never Been Kissed, The Perfect Storm, Chicago, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny,
Wreck-it-Ralph, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Guardians of the Galaxy, Kong: Skull Island, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Holmes & Watson), and her mom is played by Molly Shannon (Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace,
Analyze This, Never Been Kissed, Superstar, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Osmosis Jones, Serendipity, The Santa Clause 2, Scary Movie 4, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Evan Almighty, Snow Buddies, Bad Teacher, Scary Movie 5, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, TV episodes of
Saturday Night Live, Will and Grace). Zack’s brother Kyle is played by Matthew Gray Gubler (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, RV, Suburban Gothic, TV episodes of Criminal Minds – Dr. Spencer Reid), Zack’s dad is played by
comedian Paul Reiser (Beverly Hills Cop movies, The Marrying Man, Bye Bye Love, TV episodes of My Two Dads, Mad About You, Stranger Things), and Zack’s Mom is played by Cheryl Hines (Along Came Polly, Herbie: Fully Loaded, RV, The Grand, Space Chimps, TV episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Suburgatory). The other girl – Erica – is played by Anna Kendrick (Twilight Saga, Scott Pilgrim vs the World, Pitch Perfect movies, The Accountant), and grandpa is played by
Garry Marshall (Directed -Beaches, Prety Woman, Exit to Eden, Dear God, Runaway Bride, The Princess Diaries, Writer -Jack Paar Show, Joey Bishop Show, Make Room for Daddy, The Lucy Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Love American Style, The Odd Couple, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy,
Joanie Loves Chachi, acting in TV episodes like Murphy Brown). Other actors are Paul Weitz, Alia Shawkat, Adam Pally, Jim O’Heir, and Thomas McDonell.
Matthew Gray Gubler is the comic relief as the gun happy security guard brother. I also loved Dane DeHaan and Aubrey Plaza in their starring roles. We learn that zombies love attics and we should just accept that. It is a good story, charmingly unique.
I’ll give this movie 3.9 out of 5 stars, maybe a little slow in the beginning. For more information read Wikipedia, IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.
